Novak Djokovic withdraws from Toronto due to fatigue

WATCH: Novak Djokovic cries upon seeing son Stefan still beaming with pride following his Wimbledon loss.

The first ATP Masters 1000 event of the summer hard-court season will take place without Novak Djokovic. The tournament announced Sunday that the world No. 2 has withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Toronto, which begins Aug. 4, due to fatigue.

A four-time champion in Canada, Djokovic hasn't played the tournament since 2018. The last two years, he was not permitted to enter the country as a consequence of being unvaccinated against COVID-19. A week ago, Djokovic lost a five-set, nearly four-hour Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz, ending his 20-match winning streak at Grand Slam tournaments this year.

“I have always enjoyed my time in Canada but after speaking with my team, we believe this is the right decision to take,” Djokovic said in a statement. “I would like to thank Karl Hale, the tournament director, for understanding this decision. I really hope I can return to Canada and Toronto in the coming years to play in front of great fans there.”

As a result of Djokovic's withdrawal, Wimbledon quarterfinalist Chris Eubanks, now No. 31 in the ATP rankings, moves into the main draw.

“Of course, we’re disappointed that Novak won’t be playing at the National Bank Open this year,” Hale said. “He’s an incredible player and one we know our fans were eager to watch at Sobeys Stadium.

"He will be missed but we still have a long list of sensational players confirmed for this year’s event, including 41 of the top 42 players in the world.”

Djokovic remains on the still on the entry list for the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, which begins on Aug. 12. It's expected to be his first tournament on U.S. soil since 2021.